Videoloft

Videoloft is a privately held British technology company focused on cloud-based video-surveillance-as-a-service, commonly abbreviated as VSaaS. The company was incorporated in 2012 under the name Manything by James West and Mike Fischer. Its original product, also called Manything, used a mobile application to turn an unused smartphone into a networked security camera. This consumer-oriented approach made it possible to reuse existing phone hardware for remote monitoring, cloud video storage, and basic surveillance functions. The business later moved away from a primarily do-it-yourself consumer proposition. In 2017, Manything began concentrating on professional security channels and entered a joint initiative with Hikvision to offer cloud recording through security dealers. This shift placed the company closer to the electronic-security, camera-manufacturer, and systems-integrator ecosystems than to consumer mobile applications alone. The Manything application remained available for legacy users, while the wider company developed infrastructure and products intended for professional deployments. In August 2019, Manything adopted the Videoloft name. The rebrand reflected the company's broader cloud-video platform and professional-market orientation, while Manything continued as the name of its established legacy application. Videoloft's offering is based on a software-as-a-service model, with cloud services connecting compatible cameras, recorders, and channel hardware to remote video storage and management tools. From 2020 onward, the company expanded its technical range. Reported developments included cloud video analytics capable of object and text recognition, native 4K cloud recording, integrations with manufacturers including Vivotek, and higher-capacity Cloud Adapter products designed for larger installations. The 16-channel and 64-channel adapters extended the platform from smaller deployments toward enterprise and multi-camera sites. Videoloft also expanded its operations into the United States, while maintaining channel distribution across Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region. The company is headquartered at Milton Park in Oxfordshire, with research-and-development and administrative operations in Abingdon and commercial personnel in North America. Its route to market combines cloud software with camera and recorder compatibility, dealer relationships, manufacturer integrations, and regional distributors. In July 2026, Videoloft announced a Windows-based Virtual Cloud Adapter, allowing compatible cameras and recorders to connect to the cloud platform without a dedicated physical adapter and supporting installations of up to 64 channels. Videoloft's present identity is therefore centered on professional cloud video infrastructure, remote surveillance management, analytics, and channel-oriented deployment rather than on its original smartphone-repurposing concept.

Videoloft began as Manything, a company incorporated on 27 June 2012 by James West and Mike Fischer. Its initial product addressed a simple consumer problem: unused smartphones could be converted into internet-connected security cameras through an application. The Manything app allowed users to repurpose old mobile devices for monitoring rather than purchasing dedicated camera hardware, establishing the company's early identity as a do-it-yourself security technology provider. The company later changed its commercial direction. In 2017, Manything moved toward the professional security market and worked with Hikvision on a joint initiative to sell cloud recording through security dealers. This transition connected the company with established camera vendors, dealers, and installers, and moved its proposition toward managed cloud infrastructure for professional surveillance systems. Manything was renamed Videoloft in August 2019. The new name became the corporate and platform brand, while the Manything app continued to serve legacy users. The rebrand accompanied a broader emphasis on cloud-based video surveillance rather than smartphone reuse alone. Videoloft's model combines hosted software services with integrations for cameras, recorders, and intermediary hardware used by security professionals. During the period from 2020 onward, Videoloft reported a series of platform and hardware developments. These included cloud-based video analytics with object and text recognition, native 4K cloud recording, and direct integrations with manufacturers such as Vivotek. The company also increased the capacity of its Cloud Adapter range, introducing 16-channel and 64-channel models aimed at larger sites and enterprise deployments. These developments broadened the service from remote recording toward a more complete cloud video management and analytics platform. Videoloft also expanded geographically. Its main research-and-development and administrative operations are located in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, while the company maintains sales staff in North America and works with channel distributors throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. This structure reflects a business that sells primarily through professional security channels rather than relying solely on direct-to-consumer application distribution. In July 2026, Videoloft launched a Windows-based Virtual Cloud Adapter. The software provides a way for compatible cameras and recorders to connect to Videoloft's cloud services without requiring a physical Cloud Adapter and supports up to 64 channels. This product extends the company's original adapter concept into software and may simplify deployments where virtualized or existing local infrastructure is preferred. Across its history, Videoloft has therefore progressed from repurposed smartphones and consumer monitoring toward a professional cloud-surveillance ecosystem built around hosted recording, analytics, hardware compatibility, and dealer-led deployment.

• 2026

  Virtual Cloud Adapter introduced

  [1]Videoloften.wikipedia.org

  Videoloft launched a Windows-based software adapter supporting connections of up to 64 channels without dedicated physical adapter hardware.

• 2020

  Expansion of analytics, recording, and integrations

  [1]Videoloften.wikipedia.org

  Videoloft reported object and text recognition, native 4K cloud recording, manufacturer integrations, and larger Cloud Adapter models.

• 2019

  Corporate rebrand to Videoloft

  [1]Videoloften.wikipedia.org

  Manything changed its company name to Videoloft, retaining the Manything application for legacy users.

• 2017

  Move into professional security channels

  [1]Videoloften.wikipedia.org

  Manything began a joint initiative with Hikvision to sell cloud recording through security dealers.

• 2012

  Manything is incorporated

  [1]Videoloften.wikipedia.org

  James West and Mike Fischer incorporated the company on 27 June 2012 under the Manything name.

• 2012

  Manything app launches

  [1]Videoloften.wikipedia.org

  The company's first product used old smartphones as DIY security cameras through a mobile application.

A professional, channel-oriented cloud video surveillance platform that connects cameras and recording equipment to hosted storage, analytics, and remote management services.

• Mobile security application · 2012

  Manything app

  Manything was Videoloft's original mobile application and remains associated with the company's legacy users. It allowed an old smartphone to function as a DIY security camera, using the device's camera and network connection for remote monitoring and cloud-based video services. The product established the company's initial consumer proposition before the business shifted toward professional security dealers and integrated surveillance deployments.

• Video-surveillance-as-a-service · 2019

  Videoloft cloud platform

  The Videoloft cloud platform provides hosted video-surveillance functions for compatible cameras, recorders, and adapter hardware. Its reported capabilities include cloud recording, remote access, analytics, and support for professional channel deployments. The service is designed to let security dealers and integrators connect customer installations to cloud infrastructure without operating their own video-storage platform.

• Surveillance connectivity hardware · 2020

  Cloud Adapter

  Videoloft Cloud Adapters connect compatible cameras or recording systems to the company's cloud services. The range was expanded with 16-channel and 64-channel models, allowing the platform to address larger installations and enterprise sites. The adapters are part of Videoloft's channel-oriented architecture, in which local surveillance equipment is linked to hosted recording and management services.

• Windows surveillance software · 2026

  Virtual Cloud Adapter

  The Windows-based Virtual Cloud Adapter enables compatible cameras and recorders to connect to Videoloft's cloud platform without a physical Cloud Adapter. Announced in July 2026, it supports up to 64 channels and extends the company's connectivity model into software that can run on suitable existing computing infrastructure.

• 2026

  Introduce a software-based cloud connection optionProduct launch

  Background

  Physical adapter hardware was not the only possible way to connect compatible surveillance equipment to a cloud service.

  Action taken

  Videoloft launched a Windows-based Virtual Cloud Adapter supporting up to 64 channels.

  Aftermath

  The product offered customers and channel partners a software alternative to dedicated Cloud Adapter hardware.

  Source

• 2020

  Broaden cloud platform capabilitiesProduct launch

  Background

  Videoloft was developing a more comprehensive cloud service for professional surveillance installations.

  Action taken

  It added object and text recognition, native 4K cloud recording, manufacturer integrations, and higher-capacity Cloud Adapters.

  Aftermath

  The platform became better suited to multi-camera, higher-resolution, and enterprise-oriented deployments.

  Source

• 2019

  Rebrand from Manything to VideoloftStrategy

  Background

  The company had expanded beyond its original smartphone-based application into a broader cloud video platform.

  Action taken

  Manything adopted Videoloft as its corporate brand while retaining the Manything app for legacy users.

  Aftermath

  The brand became associated with professional cloud video surveillance, dealer distribution, and connected camera infrastructure.

  Source

• 2017

  Shift from consumer DIY monitoring to professional security channelsStrategy

  Background

  Manything had begun with an application that repurposed old smartphones as consumer security cameras, but the company sought a professional route to market.

  Action taken

  It launched a joint initiative with Hikvision to provide cloud recording through security dealers.

  Aftermath

  The move positioned the business within the professional security and systems-integration market and preceded its later Videoloft rebrand.

  Source

1. 1Videoloften.wikipedia.org